Improvement in hydraulic elevators



Patented Jan. 25,1876.

F. B. PERKINS.

HYDRAULIC-ELEVATOR.

lll/1 WVIESE LZ, 76

N. PETERS. FHDTOLITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

FRANCIS B. PERKINS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 'ASSIGNOR TO THE VVHITTIER MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. l 72,650, dated January 25, 1876 application filed October :26, 1675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. PERKINS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented Improvements in Hydraulic Elevators, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to hydraulic elevaV tors, and has i'or its object to so construct such elevators that they may be used for heavy or light loads, and consume more or less water, according to the weight to be raised; and the in venton consists in the combination of' a series oi" headed pistons, one within the other, each piston-head fitting the cylindrical sleeve of the piston, or cylinder surrounding` it, and combined therewith are water-supplying pipes provided with openings, and adapted to discharge water under one or the other, or two or more,ot` the piston-heads, and elevate one or the other, or two or more pistons, as hereinafter described.

The central piston carries a cross-head, suitably connected by means of ropes, chains, or bands with the elevator-carriage.

Figure l represents this my invention, the view heilig partially' in section; and Figs. 2, 3, a modiiication.

1n the drawing, c represents the elevator car or platform of any well-known construction, and guided as usual, the car being supported and raised and lowered through the action ot' ropes, chains, or bands passing at the upper end ot' the building over sheaves or drums. The upper portion of the car and the sheaves or drums are not shown, as they are of ordinary construction. The hoistingropes or supensories b b, two or more, for operating the car, are connected at one end with the car, in the usual way, tl.. connection not being shown, and the opposite ends of the supensories are connected with a xed portion ofthe elevator, in this instance to hooks c on the guideways d, and each suspensory passes over or about, in this instance, three loose pulleys or sheaves, c, attached to the cylinder f, or to other fixed part, and over or about a corresponding number ot' sheaves, g, on the movable cross-head h, connected with the rod z' ot' the inner central piston, having its head j fitted tight to the interior of the cylindrical sleeve la ot' a second piston, having its head1 tted water-tight to the outer cylinder f. The cross-head has gibs or bearings entering grooves in or engaging the guideways d, in the usual manner.

The water to operate the inner piston in Fig. 1 passes from a suitable supply through the inlet m, and one ot' the openings in the valve n, ot' ordinary construction, and through the pipe n, which passes into the rod i ofthe inner piston, through a stuffing-box, p, and water discharged by this pipe into the cylinder 7s ot' the second piston will act against the heady' of the inner piston, and raise it and the cross-head as far as desired. This inner piston will be used for light loads; but it' at any time it is necessary to eleva-te a4 heavier load, then the second piston may be elevated by allowing water to pass from pipe q through one of the openings in valve r into pipe s, and through the bottom or lower end or side of cylinderf, under and so as to act upon and elevate the head Z of the second piston.

The car may be stopped at any time by cutting oft the supply ot' water through pipes m o or q s, and to allow the car to descend the valves n r are turned so as to allow the Water within the apparatus to pass backward as the car, by its own weight, descends, the water under the pistons and in the cylinder passing out into the main through pipes t w, or either ot' them, as one or both cylinders were used. These valves are ot' ordinary construction, and are opened or closed by ropes under the control of a person in the car, or within the space through which the car moves.

The number of sheaves e g are in proportion to the length of the stroke ot' the piston, and the height to which the car is to be moved.

In Fig. 2 I show three pistons incased in an outer cylinder, each piston-head fitting the cylindrical sleeve of each piston water-tight. The outer cylinder is supplied with water to move the piston-head, tttin git through a pipe like s, Fig. l; but the pipe for supplying the water to the two innermost pistons -is somewhat different from pipe o in Fig. l, for in Fig. l such pipe o terminates in the hollow rod i, and its end is open, whereas in Fig. 2 the end ofthe pipe is closed, as at w, Fig. 3,

openings x y being made for the passage of the water, the uppermost openings x discharging water to move the inner cylinder connected with the cross-head h, and the lower openings y admitting water under the second piston, while the third piston is moved by water from pipe s.

Inside the pipe 0 in Fig. 2, I place a valve,

a', operated by a valve-rod or rope or cord, 11',

- and valve a' are broken away to save space on the drawing. The inner or the outer 'movable piston of the elevator' may be thrown into operation at any point of the upward position or travel of the car.

When the inner piston, Fig. l, has been used for a portion of a stroke, and the other piston is to be brought into operation, then I either close the inlet m by turning valve a, orl I may place a check-valve in pipe m, to prevent the backward movement of the water by the action ofthe piston-head l in rising.

I am aware that a piston with a solid head has been placed and employed within one of a series of hollow pistons with open ends, the ends ofthepistons corresponding withthese hollow or tubular parts not provided with heads. Such pistons, with outer annular flanges, and adapted to be connected, one or more in regular succession, with and to be held down by a locking device or devices connected with a stationary part oi? the frame, I do not claim.

In a syst-em of pistons made according to my invention the inner or the outer piston of the set of pistons may be lifted by Water admitted only under it, and the admission of waterunder either piston may be governed by the mere opening of valves under the control ofthe operator in the car; and by my arrangement the inner piston, or the one adapted for a light load, may elevate the car one iiight or story, and then, if extra weight is added or additional power is required, a second-cylinder may be thrown into operation, it commencing immediately to lift, and acting thereafter to raise the car, whereas in the case referred to the extra or different pistons for increased loads cannot be called into play at any intermediate position ot the car.

I do not claim a system of pistons wherein it is necessary, before starting the carriage on its upward motion, to secure or lock in operative position the cylinders not tobe used on that trip, and wherein a larger piston cannot be added and made eii'ective except with the car down and before starting.

- scribin g witnesses.

This invention is applicable as a hydraulic jack.

By this invention I am enabled to bring into action, when starting to elevate the car, or at any position of the car during its upward mo tion, an increased amount of piston-surface, to add to the lifting power of the hydraulic apparatus.

With a piston and a series of surrounding tubular pistons with open'heads, as represented in Patent N o. 134,019, the amount of piston-surface in use at the commencement of the ascent of the car cannotbe increased during that ascent of the car by the addition of extra pistonsuri'ace, and to regulate the extent of pistonsurface beyond the surface of the head of the inner piston it is absolutely necessary to employ a locking or coupling device to connect the outer pistons, one or more, to a stationary part ofthe elevator, the locking and unlocking devices being essential elements to an operative combination when the area of the pistonsurface is to be changed from the amountvpresented by the central piston-head.

v I claiml. 'Ihe combination, with the outer cylinder and inner piston, connected with the crosshead, of an intermediate headed piston and water-supplying pipes, adapted to admit water into the main cylinder or under either piston, to raise a piston or pistons within it, and also the cross-head, either of the pistons being adapted to be brought into action when the car is starting, or after it is partially elevated, to regulate the lifting power of the piston or pistons, the outer piston in its movement moving the piston or Vpistons within it and the load, substantially as described.

2. The inner piston, guided cross-head, sets of sheaves e egg, and two suspensories, adapted to be connected with the car, in combination with an intermediate headed piston,-in which the inner piston is carried and moved, and with water-supplyin g pipes,provided with independent openings, t-o discharge water through different openings under the heads of the different pistons, each piston having water-supplying openings, substantially as described.

l .In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of an outer cylinder with an intermediate headed piston, having a tubular sleeve, an interior piston, having its head fitted to an interior sleeve, and with water-controlling passages, whereby water may be admitted at will under either of the pistons separately, to lift either piston, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- FRANCIS B. PERKINS.

Witnesses: A

G. W. GREGORY, S. B. RIDDER. 

